An Open Letter to Military Personnel Involved with the War in Afghanistan
from
Alexander Mirabella
Chairman, Union County Board of County Commissioners
September, 2021
With the 20th Anniversary of 9/11 nearing, I would like to share a message of hope with our veterans, active duty service members, military families and Gold Star families on behalf of the Union County Board of County Commissioners.
The events in Afghanistan over the last several weeks have been shocking. Many of us are hurting and cannot fathom why the end of the war unfolded as it did. But we do know this: your work in this fight, whether deployed or stateside, was truly heroic. You have served our country with honor, with bravery, with dignity, and with an exemplary commitment to the principles of liberty and justice that are the bedrock of our nation.
And so we reaffirm our pledge to support and assist our military veterans and their families, those who served in the war in Afghanistan and many other members of the Union County community with military service.
Please know that the Union County Office of Veteran Services stands ready to answer questions and direct you to resources that meet your particular needs, and you can contact our certified staff at 908-527-4918.
For those with more emergent needs, I encourage you to reach out and connect with the Veterans Administration Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255.
And, if you feel more comfortable speaking with a veteran who knows and understands how to work through this time of crisis, please call the Vet2Vet Hotline at 1-866-838-7654.
Finally, we urge veterans and their loved ones to reach out to comrades in arms, family members, friends and organizations who are hurting right now as a result of the recent events in Afghanistan.
Lend them your support, let them know they have the support of the Union County community, and encourage them to reach out for any resources and assistance they may need.
Sincerely,
Alexander Mirabella
Chairman, Union County Board of County Commissioners